In this livestream recorded July 15, 2026, David gives his quarterly check-in on AI, including what it does well, where it still falls short, and what its massive capital spending means for jobs, stocks, and the economy. He then answers listener questions on the dollar, crypto, central bank digital currencies, and managing the model portfolios. Topics covered include: Become a Member If you would like to listen to this episode of Money For the Rest of Us Plus, you can do so by … [Read more...]
552: AI Is Changing Me – and the Case for Good Enough
When is good enough actually good enough? AI is reshaping how I work and live. And a member with a portfolio that's beaten an all-in-one Vanguard LifeStrategy fund for ten years asks whether the complexity is worth it — or whether it's time to simplify. Show Notes The Upswing: How We Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again by Robert Putnam—Simon &Schuster An update on our model deprecation commitments for Claude Opus 3—Anthropic Claude's … [Read more...]
548: What Will Drive Financial Markets in 2026—and How to Make It Your Best Year
We explore the forces likely to shape financial markets in 2026 and how to make better decisions as you pursue your goals this year. Topics covered include: Show Notes A Slightly Better You in the New Year by Roland Fryer—The Wall Street Journal Paying Not to Go to the Gym by Stefano DellaVigna and Ulrike Malmendier—American Economic Association Handbook of Cognitive Biases—Federal Intelligence Service FIS Employed full time: Median usual weekly real earnings: Wage … [Read more...]
542: Don’t Take Financial Advice from AI
A concerning example of how AI makes simple financial mistakes, and the right and wrong way to use AI to make financial decisions. Topics covered include: Show Notes What Kind of a “PhD-level Expert” Is ChatGPT 5.0? I Tested It. by Gary Smith—Mind Matters Top US Army General Says He’s Letting ChatGPT Make Military Decisions by Joe Wilkins—Futurism Why Language Models Hallucinate by Adam Tauman Kalai, Ofir Nachum, et al—Arxiv Auto Loan … [Read more...]
538: Forests, Fakes, and the Fight for the Real
From salmon leaping along the Vancouver Island coast to fake bands on Spotify, this episode explores the divide between the physical and digital economy, and what lumber markets, managed forests, and everyday life teach us about staying connected to the real. Topics covered include: Show Notes Lumber Prices Are Flashing a Warning Sign for the U.S. Economy by Ryan Dezember—The Wall Street Journal Lumber Price—Trading Economics J.Crew used A.I. to counterfeit their own … [Read more...]
536: How to Invest During a Bubble?
From the dot-com boom to today’s AI frenzy, bubbles follow a familiar script. This episode explores how to recognize them, what sustains them, and how to position your portfolio without getting swept up in the hype. Topics covered include: Show Notes I'm Changing How I Manage My Money Because of AI by Hank Green—YouTube % S&P 500 share of top 10 companies by market cap %—Apollo Academy Charted: S&P 500 Market Concentration Over 145 Years by Kayla Zhu—Visual … [Read more...]
535: Six Principles for Thriving Under Uncertainty and How Big Tech Is Doing the Opposite
A practical framework for making better decisions, managing risk, and finding opportunity in unpredictable environments. We contrast these principles with the massive $2.9 trillion AI data center build-out by Big Tech, which is betting big on a single superintelligence future. Show Notes Inside the relentless race for AI capacity—The Financial Times Inside the AI race: can data centres ever truly be green?—The Financial Times The Kanye/Data Center Crossover by Paul … [Read more...]
507: Where You Live Matters – How Geography Contributes to Wealth
How geography contributes to economic growth and can increase or lower the cost of living. Topics covered include:Why living in a developing country like Costa Rica is still relatively expensiveHow Amazon and e-commerce platforms lower the cost of livingWhy we should consider slowing down our rate of consumptionHow geography is impacting the rollout of AI Show Notes Market Research in Costa Rica: Costa Rica is a strong market in Central America providing many benefits.—SIS … [Read more...]
505: Optimization, AI, and Opting Out with Coco Krumme
In our final episode of the year, I converse with author and data scientist Coco Krumme about the benefits and costs of optimization in finance, industry, and our daily lives. We explore AI and its overlap with optimization. We also consider the pros and cons of life optimization and finally discuss the extreme challenge of opting out. Show Notes Optimal Illusions: The False Promise of Optimization by Coco Krumme—Penguin Random House cocofolio.com Coco … [Read more...]
457: AI’s Fork in the Road: Societal Bliss or Existential Threat
One year after the release of ChatGPT, we explore the positive and negative paths AI could take and what individuals can do to assist with a positive outcome. Topics covered include: Show Notes Everyday Chaos: Technology, Complexity, and How We're Thriving in a New World of Possibility by David Weinberger—Harvard Business Review The economic and market impact of artificial intelligence—Capital Economics The Fight for the Soul of A.I. by David Brooks—The New York … [Read more...]
